Category Archives: Op-Ed

Futility Of War Buried In Pro-Nationalism Of ‘Red Dawn’

Like most Gen Xers during the Reaganeighties, there was this silly threat that the Soviet Union was going to nuke America and everyone who supported this theory to prove it was the toughest kid on the street. Ironically, by the time Red Dawn premiered in the summer of 1984, the USSR was running on fumes.Continue reading “Futility Of War Buried In Pro-Nationalism Of ‘Red Dawn’”

There Are No Small Roles, Only Small Actors

You may not know the name Ned Eisenberg, but you probably remember his face. He was the textbook actor for “that guy who was in that movie that was out last year.” With a resume as long as the Baja Penisula, Ned Eisenberg who passed away on Feb 27 from cholangiocarcinoma, a cancer of theContinue reading “There Are No Small Roles, Only Small Actors”

Olympics Figure Skating Scandal Reinforces Pressures We Place On Youth

For what it’s worth, the women’s free skating competition at the Olympics was a no-win situation. The scandal and controversy all week is that Kamila Valieva, who is only 15, had tested positive in December for the banned drug trimetazidine. But here is the issue? Did she knowingly take it or was it given toContinue reading “Olympics Figure Skating Scandal Reinforces Pressures We Place On Youth”

Super Bowl Halftime Shows Generational/Cultural Gaps Still Wider Than Ever

It’s hard to believe for some people, but Dr. Dre’s seminal album The Chronic turns 30 this year. It was one of the first CDs I bought through Columbia House or BMG. And there was nothing that sounded like it before and nothing that has sounded like it since. Dre had risen to fame throughContinue reading “Super Bowl Halftime Shows Generational/Cultural Gaps Still Wider Than Ever”

Ivan Reitman Revolutionized Irreverent Comedies

It’s an odd coincidence the same day Ivan Reitman passes away, a Super Bowl commercial airs starring Eugene Levy as an action star. Levy had appeared in Cannibal Girls, a horror comedy that was Reitman’s first movie as a director. Born in Czechoslovakia in the post-WWII era the son of Jewish Hungarians, his mother hadContinue reading “Ivan Reitman Revolutionized Irreverent Comedies”

Have The Oscars Jumped The Shark?

This past week, the Academy Award nominations were announced and people are probably scratching their heads. Don’t Look Up was nominated for Best Picture, making it possibly one of the worst, if not worst reviewed, movie to be nominated. And people though The Towering Inferno was not worthy. The problem is simple. The Oscars areContinue reading “Have The Oscars Jumped The Shark?”

‘We Need To Talk About Cosby’ Examines Public Persona Versus Harsh Realities

The Showtime docuseries We Need to Talk About Cosby is more than just an examination of the allegations against him. There have been several of those over the last few years. Filmmaker W. Kamau Bell goes deeper and looks at role models and celebrity worship. I can honestly say growing up in the Deep SouthContinue reading “‘We Need To Talk About Cosby’ Examines Public Persona Versus Harsh Realities”

The First Amendment Is For Everyone And Everyone Is Going To Have To Realize It

Many years ago now it seems when Fred Phelps died, a lot of people were celebrating his death. Without a doubt, the outspoken racist, bigoted and prejudiced so-called pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan. wasn’t a true man of God. He spoke of intolerance and hatred. His people protested funerals of militaryContinue reading “The First Amendment Is For Everyone And Everyone Is Going To Have To Realize It”